A new diocesan program which calls for sending missionaries to areas of the world "where no Christian work was being done" was announced by the Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield during the convention of the Diocese of San Joaquin Oct. 27-28 at St. James' Cathedral in Fresno.

Bishop Schofield explained that the concept for the missionary endeavor came from diocesan representatives to the New Wineskins Conference last spring.

"The Lord's plan (for San Joaquin) came into focus," he said. "We were to support, and become involved in, missionary outreach in areas and peoples of the world where no Christian work was being done."

During the coming year, the diocese will send clergy to Nepal, Pakistan and Laos.

A diocesan youth convention, with 200 in attendance, was held concurrently with the convention at the diocesan conference center, ECCO.

One of the first missionaries will be the Rev. Sam Vongsant, who will return to his native Laos after being gone from that country for 25 years.

As part of its outreach, the diocese will also send $53,000 to "wonderfully orthodox dioceses in Africa," Bishop Schofield said. The money will be sent in the name of the national church, and the diocese reduced its payment to the national church by that amount.

The diocese will be preparing for growth by helping parishes and missions in four areas, said the bishop. Those areas are youth work, discipleship, evangelism and stewardship. He said the diocese should be ready to double in size in the next five years, and triple in 10. He cited demographic studies showing that California's San Joaquin Valley will triple its population in the next 20-30 years.

Bishop Schofield also told delegates that while many people had left the Episcopal Church because of "decisions made by last summer's General Convention," he has no plans to leave.

"I am quite content to be obedient to Jesus and his word as a member of the Episcopal Church, particularly because I know that primates heading up various provinces of the Anglican Communion throughout the world are monitoring us carefully."

A resolution supporting Episcopalians who have joined the Anglican Mission in America failed on a divided vote, with clergy supporting it and lay delegates rejecting it.

A diocesan budget of $1.3 million - which includes 4 percent pay increases for diocesan clergy - was adopted.